Life Sketch for a Funeral

My dad married his high school sweetheart, Lisa Malee Erickson, on February 5, 1993. He had joined the Army Reserve and left soon after they were married to attend basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri. I'm his first daughter, Christine Brianne Hill. I was born May 26, 1993, while he was in training. Daddy was given leave to come home and see his new baby daughter, but had to return just two days later. He completed his training two months later and returned to his wife and baby. He adored Christine and would not be without her. I was looking at pictures and talking to my mom, she said she remembers him sleeping with Christine on his chest. (Insert letter from Ryan to Christine) Dad was always very supportive of us kids. He did not like cheerleading, and never failed to let me know that, but he always paid for me to participate because he knew it made me happy. If I happy, he was happy. Mom, Dad, and I moved to Utah in 1993 so Ryan could attend the University of Utah. One of his favorite classes was photography and Lisa remembers taking Christine to the photo lab to spend time with him. In August 1995, the family moved back to Idaho and lived in Mud Lake on the farm. I would ride with Ryan in the stacker, or “snacker” as I called it. Ryan was taking classes at the ISU extension during that time. Ryan and Lisa were serving as Primary teachers in their ward there– a calling that Ryan loved because he got to be with kids. That was a good time for our family, and we later moved to Rexburg. On August 16, 1996, I got my baby brother, Nathan Grant Hill. Dad spent a lot of time with Nathan as a baby because Lisa was working full-time. Lisa remembers he was so happy to have a son. Nathan spent a lot of time with his Dad in the combine. As he grew up, Nate loved to go fishing and camping with Ryan. He especially liked the homemade bows and arrows and walking sticks that Ryan would carve for him. Ryan and Nate went on a week-long hunting trip....